Learning Edge

We're gearing up! Our orientations start this week and then the first nights of tutoring are the week of September 21.

Please keep in mind the important dates below, and if you don't have information about the orientation that applies to you, please reach out to Kara directly!

Returning Student Orientation (Zoom): Tonight!
New Volunteer Orientation: September 14 or 17
Returning Volunteer Orientation (Zoom): September 15
New Student Orientation: September 17 or October 1

We're looking forward to seeing all of our students, their families, and our mentor-tutors!

We were saddened to hear about the death of longtime mentor-tutor, Don Edwards. Don was incredibly kind and dedicated to his students. He was committed to mentorship as a means of giving back to his community. Our thoughts are with his family, especially his wife Jean, who we also got to know and love through her time as a Learning Edge tutor.

Donald Edwards, 84 - Wednesday Journal Donald McMahan Edwards, 84, died on Aug. 11, 2026, in Oak Park. Born on Oct. 22, 1941, in Marshall, Kentucky, he was a true southern gentleman who leaves behind a legacy of integrity, kindness, and achievement. As a youth, he achieved the distinguished honor of being the First Black Eagle Scout in M...

We had the pleasure of sponsoring some of our students for summer academic enrichment activities! Learning Edge provided 17 scholarships this summer to help cover the cost of enrichment programs and/or required supplies. Our talented students used this funding for academic camps, art and music programs, nature programs, athletics, and more!

This Learning Edge tradition is 6 years strong and it's one more example of how our tutoring program considers the whole child and seeks to support them in learning opportunities outside of school. As our tutors gear up for a new school year, we know you'll have fun hearing what your student was up to all summer!

Learning Edge is pleased to announce that we'll be back at Bonnie Brae 9/11 Charity "LemonAid" Stand in River Forest on September 11!

Founded in 2002, LemonAid has raised over $707,000 for 30 local charities that serve kids in need. In 2007, Learning Edge Tutoring (Cluster Tutoring at the time) benefited from this effort! And this year, LemonAid looking to make an even bigger splash by inviting all 30 nonprofits back as recipients as they celebrate their 25th anniversary.

Join us on Bonnie Brae in River Forest from 3-7pm on Friday, September 11 for the fun and fundraising! You can expect: unlimited lemonade, DJ and live music, places to sit and relax, plenty of kids' activities, a photo booth, popcorn, cotton candy and more!

Can't join us the day of? Show your support for Learning Edge by donating at www.learningedgetutoring.org/donate/

Swipe to see some throwback news coverage courtesy of Wednesday Journal and Pioneer Local (now Chicago Tribune Suburbs).

We are excited to announce that we have been chosen to participate in a charitable giving campaign sponsored and funded by Target. You can help direct a portion of Target’s donation to us! Now through September 30, 2026, vote for us through the Target Circle program to help determine how Target’s donation will be divided up.

There are two ways to vote: Online at target.com/circle/community-voting or using the the Target app. In either case, your store needs to be set to Oak Park so you can see Learning Edge as an option.

If you're voting through the app, click on My Target > ◎Circle benefits > Community support votes > then look for "Learning Edge Tutoring," add however many eligible votes you'd like to share with us, and click "Cast votes."

Every vote counts to help us receive a portion of the available Target funds as we continue our mission to strive for more equity in education by providing Chicago-area students who live in underserved communities free one-to-one tutoring and academic enrichment opportunities enhanced by caring, mentoring relationships.

Don’t forget, as you earn more votes through shopping, you can keep voting multiple times during the campaign! Thank you for helping us make the most of this opportunity!

Congratulations to graduating senior, Lena!

Lena has been a student at Learning Edge Tutoring since fourth grade and, according to her current tutor, Kevin, “She’s a great student and open to ideas.”

Lena said that in tutoring, “We do everything: although math’s Kevin’s favorite, we work on Spanish, Shakespeare, AP African American studies…” Kevin added, “We’ve done rules of the road!”

Despite working on a wide breadth of subjects and feeling challenged academically by each of her tutors, Lena said the real value of tutoring has been the mentor-student connections themselves. “We talk about real life events, about things that we can learn from past experiences,” she claimed. Lena went on to describe a research paper she had completed on maternal mortality in minorities, and how Kevin added depth to her understanding by speaking to his own experiences as a physician.

Lena will be missed in our program not only as a student, but as one of the friendly faces that greeted families and tutors; Lena has been one of our Program Assistants since her sophomore year. While the tutoring program clearly benefits from the work she does preparing and clearing up our spaces each week, Lena said she reaped the benefits, too. “It taught me a lot of leadership skills and provided my first perspective on finding a work/school balance,” Lena explained, adding that it was an easy introduction to work life since she was already familiar with the environment and many members of the community.

To the students who come after her, she advised them to “Embrace the help! There’s nothing wrong with receiving help.”

Lena has been offered a full ride to attend Elmhurst University and major in Psychology with hopes of one day pursing a higher education degree in Occupational Therapy.

“Saying goodbye is very bittersweet,” Lena said. “I’m very grateful for all of the beautiful people I’ve met on this journey.”

We hope it’s not goodbye, but rather, “see you later.” We’re so proud of you, Lena, and wish you luck as you continue on your journey!

Congratulations to graduating senior, Daniya!

Daniya has been a Learning Edge student since Kindergarten! In an end-of-year speech, she thanked the five tutors that have impacted her educational experience: Andrea, Mary-Anne, Silvia, Lindsey, and Andrew.

Like many students, Daniya’s journey through school was about more than academic growth; She learned resilience, hard work, and confidence. In her early years, Daniya said that tutors taught her a lot about independence and drive. “They inspired me to do bigger things.”

Daniya explained that she really struggled at the start of high school. “Freshman year was difficult; classes were way too hard and I shut down.” The academic struggles carried over into the next year, when she was matched with Andrew. Daniya said prioritizing work, asking questions, and asking for help helped her make a change and end high school on a stronger note.

“I’ve been impressed by the way that she’s persevered through hard times,” Andrew said. “The work piled up in ways that seemed overwhelming, but Daniya put her head down and got through it.”

Daniya’s advice to future Learning Edge students is to “Have faith in yourself.”

Daniya plans to attend Malcolm X and major in Criminology. She said she has always wanted to be a lawyer, but she has an arts background and so dance and arts will also be a part of her future.

We look forward to hearing about all that you accomplish, Daniya!

Congratulations to Joshua, one of our graduating seniors!

Joshua is a bit of a renaissance man–he was captain of his high school football team, he starred in one of his high school’s theatre productions, and he is a natural at math. According to his long-time mentor-tutor, Carolyn, he is a leader, he’s funny, he’s fearless on the football field, and he relates well to peers and adults alike.

Joshua has been a student at Learning Edge Tutoring since 4th grade, when his mother learned about our program from family and friends. Joshua and Carolyn have worked together for all of his nine years; He said, “we took to each other right away.”

When he was younger, the pair largely focused on homework completion. In more recent years, Carolyn has been instrumental in what Joshua called “project-based work”--including the “project” of applying for college and scholarships. Carolyn said, “It’s been fun to watch him go from reading easy books to becoming an independent learner in high school!”

Joshua is headed to Concordia University Wisconsin this fall. He plans to study justice and public policy with a minor in history and has received a scholarship to play football.

His advice to future Learning Edge students is: “Accept all. Accept everyone in the building, because you never know what you’re going to learn. Recently we had a financial literacy workshop to learn about adult life. All the volunteers contributed and they all experienced life differently and they all had different advice to add. Embrace it all, and see how it relates to you.”

Congratulations, Joshua! Have fun accepting and embracing all the good things that come your way in college!